Clay???

[munson]

[quote name='A Hunter's Moon' post='276558' date='Feb 14 2011, 07:48 AM']I took a look at some of it the other day and it was running about $14 for 4.5 lbs. It does seems extremely firm in the packaging but I think it might warm up and become easier to use as you work it. Would that be a correct assumption?[/quote]

Yup, MasterAnubis pretty much summed it up. When it's new, it does feel pretty firm, even in the 1lb packs too.

 

[TehEl1te]

Where can I get Chavant Clay at a decent price? I am looking to get 15lbs-20lbs. Is the shipping on clay rediculous?

 

[hez1]

http://www.brickintheyard.com/ has it at $3.50 per lb, and it comes in 2lb blocks. That's the cheapest I've seen it anywhere. Shipping usually isn't that bad, considering the weight. I just had 22lbs of clay shipped to me for $18 from that place.

 

[A Hunters Moon]

Okay, so let me ask you all this. What would you say are some of the main differences between the Van Akin and the Chavant? With the link Hez provided the two are only a few dollars different in price . . .

 

[TehEl1te]

Thanks for that great link hez!!!! I noticed you said you used Klean Klay before for your bios... is it just as good as chavant clays? It says its oil based just like the chavants so i imagine it is reusable as well? but its half the price of chavant.

 

[hez1]

I've used both clays for bios (not van akin though, sorry). I like the Klean klay because it's softer than the chavant, and easier to push around with your fingers without a heat gun (at least, regular klean klay is softer than chavant soft). I like the chavant because it hold detail a little better, since it's firmer. I've also had issues with silicone not curing properly on chavant clay, depending on the silicone.

Both are good, but as you've noted, the klean klay is about half the price of the chavant. Until you try them both, it's tough to say which you'll prefer.

 

[A Hunters Moon]

Hey guys. Just picked up two 4.5 lbs blocks of the van aken at hobby lobby. Their website currently has a 40% off a single item coupon that's good for a few more days. I printed out a couple, took a friend, and we got both blocks at that discount. So 9 lbs for about fifteen bucks.

I haven't got to dig into it just yet but peeling back the wrapper the clay does seem much softer than at first glance. I'd say it's a medium instead of the hard consistency that it feels in the package.

Hope that helps!

 

[TehEl1te]

hez and hunter's moon. That is excellent information!!!

I will have to try em both hez

Hunter's moon... DEFINITELY let me know how you like the van aken clay. Is it oil based?

EDIT: I was a good boy and researched it instead of being lazy. haha

Here is the description from Hobby Lobby's site for the van aken modeling clay

Plastalina Modeling Clay

This 4 1/2 pound block of Van Aken Modeling Clay is a pigmented oil based compound that is great for sculptors, animators and artists of all ages. The modeling clay has a smooth consistency and is self adhereing, non toxic, never hardens and remains permanently pliable. The colors are intermixable. It is compatible with silicone mold compounds and contains no sulfur. The modeling clay has a melting point of 65 degrees Celsius or 150 degrees Fahrenheit.

Price: $13.99
4.5 Pounds

seems pretty awesome to me... especially with that 40% off coupon!

This is kind of a dumb question... does the color of the clay matter at all???

 

[A Hunters Moon]

This is kind of a dumb question... does the color of the clay matter at all???

I think it comes down to preference. I'm not sure. Be aware however that you may have to mix and match. I spoke with a salesman about getting a second block of white and they said they rarely have more than one at a time on the shelf. The clay is intermixable though so I took a block of gray as well. Mixed they should come out to a nice light gray.

 

[hez1]

I would strongly advise sticking with one color. Any marbling on your sculpt can be really distracting, and prevent you from seeing something that you might want to fix. Other than that...It shouldn't matter a whole lot.

 

[A Hunters Moon]

Any way to mix them thoroughly enough to get a solid color or is that just not possible?

 

[MasterAnubis]

If it's warmed and mixed thoroughly then you'd be fine. I've done it on a smaller scale. But hez is right about the marbling being very distracting to the shape.

I have my medium in brown and my hard in natural so that I can tell them apart. They're the same brand, so they can mix if I want. Some reasons I see mixing is if you want to fine tune the hardness, you mixed them a little on accident(which I've done) or you just want to change the shade a little. Some of the details are hard to see in the darker clay(for me at least).

I had an artist suggest getting a clay that is close to the finished products color so that you have a better idea what it will look like.

 

[hez1]

If you were to melt both colors in a pot and stir them together, that might do it. But if you were planning on sitting there and kneading 10lbs of clay together into one shade, I think you're in for a very long night.

 

[A Hunters Moon]

If you were to melt both colors in a pot and stir them together, that might do it. But if you were planning on sitting there and kneading 10lbs of clay together into one shade, I think you're in for a very long night.

lol Well, I'd definently be melting it. I can't imagine melting it stove top. Maybe some sort of low heat source over a period of time, like a radiant heater?

 

[hez1]

I melt mine in an old pan outside on a propane stove. You could do it inside, but it'll smell a bit.

 

[TehEl1te]

Any word on how the Van Aken clay is?

 

[munson]

Any word on how the Van Aken clay is?

That's the clay I use. I like it, it's not too hard to work with and I'd say it's a good firmness too.

 

[TehEl1te]

Nice! I just think its a great deal... you can get around $10lbs of it for $15ish bucks at hobby lobby with that 40% off coupon... thats killer!

 

[munson]

Nice! I just think its a great deal... you can get around $10lbs of it for $15ish bucks at hobby lobby with that 40% off coupon... thats killer!

I bought mine from Dick Blicks. The Van Aken online is $12.31 for a 4.5 lb block, and orders of 4+ is $11.63. They carry another clay too that is pretty inexpensive. It's called "Gray Modeling Clay" and is $6.74 for a 5 lb block and orders of 6 or more are $6.23 each. I remember you saying that you're in Ohio. I'm not sure where at in Ohio, but there is a Dick Blick's in Columbus, Ohio.

Here's a link to their websites:

http://www.dickblick.com/products/gray-modeling-clay/

http://www.dickblick.com/products/van-aken...-modeling-clay/

 

[TehEl1te]

Hobby Lobby sells it too for the same price but they often have a 40% off any regular item coupon... you can walk in with two people get two 4.5lb blocks of van aken clay for $15ish total (dont want to do the exact math) lol...